Bruce: An Order of Freaks Novelette

By Mark S. R. Peterson

Bruce Gander has a unique ability. Some would call it a gift. Others, a curse.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mark S. R. Peterson
• Release date: Sep 22, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370768271

Mark S. R. Peterson

Born in small-town northwestern Minnesota, Mark S. R. Peterson knew he had a love of writing as far back as 2nd grade.His genre interests are as expansive as his musical tastes–from classics like Mozart and Beethoven to heavy metal like Poison and Metallica. He writes thrillers, horror, science fiction, and fantasy, and even dabbles into nonfiction and inspirational.He is a graduate of Bemidji State University, majoring in criminal justice and psychology. He wrote his first book between homework and achieving his 2nd Dan black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He has over 15 years of law enforcement experience and currently lives, according to a Washington Post article, in the “ugliest county” in the United States.BEHOLDER’S EYE is his first published thriller novel, the first in his Central Division Series. KILLZONE is the first in his Shadowkill trilogy.

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Bruce

An Order Of Freaks Novelette

By

Mark S. R. Peterson

Copyright 2017 © Mark S. R. Peterson

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Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

DEDICATION

To B.

A genuine gem.

Rest in peace, my friend

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, events and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Everyone knows at least one Bruce Gander in their life.

Not necessarily someone by that name, but by what he--or she--is.

The Bruce Ganders of the world are genuinely kind, thoughtful. There’s nothing fake about them. No ego. They are the type of person who would take the shirt of their backs, or pass along a bottle of water to help a friend. They’d mow someone’s lawn or shovel snow from their driveway without asking. They’d even watch one’s kids when they had sudden daycare issues.

The Bruce Gander I know . . . well, he’s all that and much, much more.

But there is one thing though that separates him from all the others. I’ve never seen him angry.

And that frightens me more than Satan himself.

Three years ago

Linda Vaughn gathered us all in the showroom, in the midst of a half-dozen brand new cars, trucks, and SUVs. The air was laced with the fresh odor of donuts, cookies, and coffee. The eastern horizon, overlooking rows upon rows of new vehicles and the busy I-29 that cut through Fargo, North Dakota, was golden with a hint of purple, crimson, and blue.

The eleven-person sales team stood in a semi-circle around Linda. Behind her was a shorter, gray-haired man in a dark suit, a striped maroon tie, and a gold, jewel-encrusted tie clasp.

She gave a quick overview of yesterday’s numbers. Sales were up two-point-three percent for the month, but we were still running four-point-seven percent under our year-to-date goal. We certainly have some ground to cover, she said. And I’m positive we’ll get there. On that note, let me introduce the newest member of our sales team: Bruce Gander.

Bruce grinned and waved, looking each of us in the eye.

We quickly went around the room, introducing ourselves, along with our years of experience, and anything special we’d want to share, if at all.

Sherry Davis, four years.

Kevin Berg, two.

Mitch Poole, five and a half years, married with a four-year-old daughter Kayla. This was me. Apparently, all it took was one to